Author's Notes: This chapter received alot of revisions, but I'm fairly pleased with how it turned out.
A shout echoed through the halls of the black tower, resonating off the walls before leaving everything still as death. Mazrim Taim was shaking, his fists flat against his large desk.
"That's what the report said, M'hael" Pedelin managed to spit out before bowing his head submissivly.
"I knew he was good, or he would not have been on my list for... further 'promotion'..." The man behind the large oak desk said, wearing his trademark half-smile. "Where did he learn to mask his weaves? The residue is... very hard to find." Taim paused a moment, looking deep in thought.
"Send out an order for his capture, Pedelin, to my handpicked men." Taim started pacing back and forth between the two windows in the room, smirking wickedly "Tell them I want him back alive, but they're allowed to use... force, to persuade him."
Pedelin blinked, and one glance at the devious look on Taim's face was enough to make him glad of his relativly safe inferior position.
"At once M'hael." He gave a clumsy bow and scurried out of the room, chills running down his spine.
Outside the small cottage, Zaide watched the two men argue with a tilted head, a curious look on her face. The dark-clad man was arguing with a man as tall as himself, with similar features but with gray, thinning hair. Possibly a close relative. She was leaning against a nearby wall, feeling a little less drowsy, but still frail. She would have tried to use Saidar to listen in if she wasn't so sure that she would collapse afterwards.
The man raised his voice slightly and gestured towards himself, she gave a start as he went on slowly, pointing at her. The older man kept a stern face, but seemed persuaded by that.
The dark clad man walked towards her hastily, his step closely resembling that deadly sway of a Warder.
"He will let us stay until you have recovered, Aes Sedai." He said, his scrutinous eyes locked on her.
"I... do have a name you know." She said, speaking softer than intended.
The man blinked and smiled at her, bowing deeply.
"How rude of me, Aes Sedai, I've not told you my name yet." He grinned and went on "My name is Dulain Armala.".
"You can call me... Lenora." She could have reahearsed that a few more times in her head, but at least her aches were beginning to feel a bit better, if anything.
"A pleasure, Lenora Sedai..." he replied, giving her another quicker bow. Strange how this man kept treating her with the proper respect... he didn't seem like the kind of man who took heed of such a thing as White Tower formality.
"The pleasure is all mine, Master Armala." She offered him a small curtsy, an attempt at any deeper and she might have found herself lying on the floor. She continually tried to hide her weariness.
A cold gust of wind blew past them, and Zaide found herself shivering to the bone. The man smirked, turning on his heels and walking off in the opposite direction.
The interior of the small cottage looked familiar. Actually, Dulain failed to notice anything deviating from how it looked in his memory. Dulain sighed as he squatted in front of the fireplace, the young, darkhaired Aes Sedai was already fast asleep in the guest room. He could see the weariness on the woman's face, but seemingly she would not admit it until she realized it herself by laying her head down on a pillow. It had been a good while since he was last here... with all the things he had lived through after joining the Black Tower, it felt like a lifetime ago. In spite of that he could still remember the sweet scent of his mother's baking wafting through the air. He closed his eyes, sighing softly as he went through it in his head, as if to see if the memory was still there.
He looked up at his mother expectantly, the late spring's evening sunshine spreading a pleasant warmth through the air.
"Dulain." She spoke softly, smiling at him. "Since you did your chores so well, and ate all your food, I'll let you go outside and play until it gets dark." She barely had time to finish the sentance before he had rushed outside.
"Thanks, mom!" he shouted, rushing towards the edge of town, trying to catch up with her before she also had to go home.
The sun was beginning to set, the recent seasonal change from spring to summer in effect, making the sunset longer. Dulain stopped for a moment as he reached the town square, throwing a glance to the harbour. It still being visible even from his location, he could clearly see the ships bobbing up and down, the water clucking against their hulls.
He had already come halfway, running the distance left before the sut set all the way would be a problem. But he ran as fast as his legs would carry him, his destination now coming into view.
The highest point for miles, a cliff set overlooking the village, and the setting sun was clear in view. The silhouette of someone cast against the horizon, and as he came closer he had to squint to be able to see the person's face clearly. The usual bright and carefree smile that Rieala wore was replaced by an unfamiliar gloominess.
"Rieala!" He shouted, waving frantically as he ran towards her.
"Dully!" She squeaked back, turning to face him as her hands quickly go behind her back.
"What's wrong." He asked, tilting his head at her.
"N-nothing! I'm fine!" She said, her face going scarlet. "I-I'm just thinking about something."
Dulain arched an eyebrow at her, crossing his arms over his chest.
"You're acting very weird." He said, his tone annoyed. "What the matter with you?"
She clenched her eyes shut, speaking on in a rapid voice:
"Dulain, I have to leave..."
"What, right now?" he asked, looking confused.
"No, I mean the... Aes Sedai came to town a-and... and... they think I have... "
"...the spark?" He finished, looking at his feet.
She hesitated before looking at him, a faint smile on her lips.
"It's not like I won't ever come back..."
"Really?" He spoke softly, not daring to meet her gaze.
"Yeah, I promise you that I will." She replied, smiling brightly at him.
They both turned to look at the sunset, enjoying the view...
That was long ago now, a different him. Joining the Black Tower, learning to master the One Power and Dumai Wells. He shivered in remembrance. There had been so many deaths and for what, The Dragon Reborn? The Black or the White Tower?
Dulain scowled at the fire as it sparkled, baring his teeth. He wanted to forget Dumai Wells, but as sure as the taint was beginning to infect his mind, the memories stayed.
Rising to his feet, Dulain turned, walking towards the front door.
He pulled his hood up as the night sky met him with rain...